I find it tricky during the holidays to find the right balance between giving my kids a magical, gift-filled season and not adding too much to their playroom that seriously needs some decluttering. Of course, there’s more to making the holidays magical than gifts, but there’s no denying that so much of the childhood thrill is tearing into beautifully wrapped presents from Santa and family. That’s why I’m focusing on fewer, big-ticket holiday gifts for my two kiddos this year—ones that won’t find themselves carelessly tossed aside when a newer, shinier object enters their world.
My husband and I believe in investing in quality pieces that can be used for multiple seasons. If you’re also into the less-is-more approach, I’ve rounded up 28 of my favorite extra-special, big-ticket Christmas presents to consider for holiday gifts for your kids this year.
You May Also Like:
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- Wondering What’s on Their List? Here Are the Best Gifts for Big Kids Ages 7-10
How to Choose the Best Big-Ticket Gifts for Kids
When selecting the best big-ticket gifts for kids, I wanted to make sure I covered a broad range of interests. That’s because no two kids are the same! Each of them has hobbies and interests that excite them and spark their individuality. With this in mind, I looked to popular hobbies like sports, music, and more. Plus, for the littles, we included plenty of pretend-play items that will ignite their creativity. The same goes for picking the perfect big-ticket gift for your own kiddo. Look at their interests and any of their personality traits that you want to encourage, and you’ll nail down the perfect gift in no time. Read on for my favorite options, split up between little and big kid selections.
Big-Ticket Holiday Gifts for Little Kids
For kids not quite ready for a smartphone, the moms on our team love the Gizmo Watch 4. It lets parents stay connected through GPS tracking, audio and video calling, and texting—without social media access. It’s a gift that gives big-kid energy, without the big-kid phone.
Designed for little legs and big adventures, this balance bike helps wobbly toddlers turn into confident riders. It’s built with no-flat tires (saving you last-minute air pumping), cushy padding, and mini grips for tiny hands—plus, an adjustable seat so it grows with them.
This classic play kitchen will blend into any home decor and has everything your little one needs for plenty of interactive, imaginative play.
If your LO loves a play kitchen, they’re going to love this play grocery store. They can crank the conveyor belt, scan items in the beeping scanner, bag groceries, swipe their “credit card,” or use the cash drawer. Another great option for sibling play, with one side dedicated to shopping and the other for checking out.
A bounce house is guaranteed to keep kids entertained and playing for hours—and this one is extra-special because it includes a slide and a ball pit. How fun is that?! We also love that it can be used outdoors during warm weather or inside in the basement during the colder months. Make every day feel like their birthday with this one!
If your kids like climbing all over and/or deconstructing your furniture the way mine do, the colorful Nugget play couches are a great solution to that. Available in tons of fun colors and neutrals, this is a gift your littles will love that you definitely won’t mind adding to any living space or playroom.
Easy to construct and bound to inspire hours of exciting, imaginative play, this canvas playhouse has four windows and an open front door. We love its simplistic and neutral design that’ll fit seamlessly in any space. It can be personalized with your little’s name, too!
A kid-favorite, big-ticket Montessori gift recommended for littles ages 6 months to 6 years, this Pikler triangle provides a safe space for children to climb and practice their balance, coordination, strength, and independence.
A big-ticket gift that will encourage their creativity—and fits any decor aesthetic. Personalization available, too!
Building a fort has never been easier! This unique tablecloth will turn any table into the pretend play space of your little one’s dreams.
An aesthetically-pleasing trampoline that will match any home’s decor and delight any toddler on your gifting list. A classic (and fun!) gift for your LO!
Perfect for basements, playrooms, or play spaces to keep kids active and moving indoors—but not jumping on the furniture.
A three-story dollhouse that fit Target’s Our Generation and American Girl dolls for hours and hours of creative play.
Family travel gets any kid excited—and they’ll be even more pumped when they get to ride around the airport on their very own SkootCase. Choose from six fun colors!
For little ones ready to cruise around, this two-seater retro Ford truck comes in multiple colors, allows for parents or kids to drive, plus pairs with Bluetooth music for an exciting play experience.
This interactive gaming console gets families up and off the couch! It uses AI to track your body movements in the game, making for fun family gaming time, that’s actually active.
Big-Ticket Holiday Gifts for Big Kids
Is your kiddo ready for their first iPad? If so, there will be plenty of sales throughout the holiday season to pick one up! iPads are great for watching their favorite shows, viewing YouTube videos, playing games, and creating in fun artistic apps—with parental controls, of course!
While we’re on the electronic train, their own set of headphones will come in handy more often than not. This popular pair from Beats are totally in style and come in five cool colors.
Basketball stars in the making will love receiving this hoop that’s perfect for them to grow into. If they’ve had a smaller one for a while now that they’re stating to outgrow, now may be the perfect time to get one that will stay with them for years to come.
This sturdy trampoline set is big enough to fit the whole family. Jump as high as you can, for as long as you can, and have fun with everyone all in the same space.
Young readers will be thrilled to receive a Kindle that opens the world of words up like never before. The newest edition includes a dreamy cover that comes in three colors, a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+, and a one-year warranty.
This kid’s version of a landline phone is all the buzz in schools this year. Kids can call friends, neighbors, grandma, or whomever you add to your approved contact list. Read our full review of the Tin Can here!
The latest evolution of a widely-loved gaming console has three play modes, a more vivid screen, and game chat, so your kid can connect with friends while they play.
This fun, interactive game board comes to life! With its exclusive library—rom board games to arcade-style games—there are endless opportunities to have an ultimate family game night all in one board.
Combine their love of Harry Potter and LEGOs into one epic gift. This set is an investment piece that they’ll love to keep on display when they’ve completed it. If Harry Potter isn’t their thing, there’s sure to be a LEGO set out there that they’ll be thrilled about.
Camp Snap’s viral retro camcorder has a new version—specifically for kids! They’ll love taking videos of their world with this screen-free camcorder that includes five vintage film filters and easily transfers videos onto a computer using a USB-C cord.
While it may be easy to say “no” to instruments as gifts due to the noise, there are few things that spark as much creativity and dedication than music. With a strategic placement in the house (or garage!) and some parameters, a drum set may be the present of your budding musician’s dreams.
Adventure is out there! And now your kiddo can set out to find it in the coolest way possible. This NatGeo set includes a telescope, a microscope, binoculars, and accessories for each. With this complete set, they’ll see more of the world than they ever thought possible.
Why You Can Count on Us
The Everygirl Media Group has brought valuable content to our readers for 12+ years. In 2018, The Everymom set out to ensure that all moms know they’re not alone. If you find yourself seeking advice on how to style the latest fashion trend or searching for the best kid-friendly coffee table, we have the answers. And if you’re wondering what’s actually worth it from a sale or looking for a review of the hottest new kids’ product, we’ve got that covered too. From our annual Registry Awards and beloved holiday gift guides to the shopping round-ups you find on our site every day, The Everymom commerce team is well-versed in sifting through thousands of products to curate a digestible list for you. We combine our own experience with in-depth research to bring you a selection that meets our high standards for both fashion and function.
Kathy Sisson, Senior Editor
Kathy Sisson has been a key contributor in the editorial parenting space for eight years, not only as a full-time editor at The Everymom but previously as a freelance writer for top parenting sites, including Scary Mommy, Motherly, Parent Co., and more. As an editor at The Everymom, she has produced hundreds of articles on a range of parenting topics, reviewed dozens of family-focused products, interviewed leading experts in the children and parenting world, and created viral parenting social media content. A mom of two, she is committed to sharing the honest, helpful, and often humorous stories of motherhood.
Julia Poulter, Senior Managing Editor
With more than 10 years of editorial experience, Julia is passionate about bringing motherhood stories to life and providing moms with interesting and informative parenting content. Prior to joining The Everygirl Media Group in 2019, she served as Executive Editor at Closer Weekly. As The Everymom’s Senior Managing Editor, Julia helps manage the brand’s editorial calendar and content strategy.
*Up to $149.99 purchase on service plan req’d. Less $75 promo credit applied over 36 mos.; promo credit ends if eligibility req’s are no longer met; 0% APR. Promo credit(s) may not exceed featured device retail price.
This post contains a sponsored inclusion of Verizon, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board.
